Latest news with #BumbleBFF
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Ask Anna: How to make LGBTQ+ friends as an adult
Dear Anna, My girlfriend and I (both 28, together for three years) have a solid group of friends from college and work, but we're the only queer couple in the bunch. While our friends are supportive and inclusive, we're craving connections with other LGBTQ+ people who just 'get it' without explanation. The problem is, we're not sure how to branch out at this stage of our lives. We're past the club scene and dating apps obviously aren't the right tool for friendship. We've tried a few LGBTQ+ meetups but they skewed much older than us. How do we find our queer chosen family without it feeling forced or like we're abandoning our current friendships? We want to expand our circle, not replace it, but we're struggling to know where to start. — Bad at Finding Friends Dear BFF, The struggle is real. Regardless of sexual orientation, the older we get, the harder it is to make friends. This isn't your fault. When we're younger, socialization is built into a lot of our activities. As we age, that becomes less and less true. And depending on where you live, finding friends can be especially challenging, particularly if you're in a monogamous relationship, aka not doing the dating-to-friends pipeline. I have vivid memories of being 22 and making lifelong friends with random people on the sidewalk at Pride, getting swept into their friend group like some beautiful gay fairy tale. (Fairy gayle?) Alas, those days are over. Is it because I'm too jaded to strike up conversations with strangers on sidewalks? Or because everyone's buried in their phones? Probably both, plus the fun crushing weight of adult social anxiety. But fear not! Alternatives do exist. However, like getting abs or learning TikTok dances, a certain amount of effort must be invested to get anything worthwhile out of it. Let's talk apps, because as the cliche goes, there's an app for everything now, including queer friendship. Lex has a friendship/community component that (in my opinion) works way better than using it for dating. It's text-first, so you actually get to know people's personalities instead of judging their bathroom mirror selfie game. Plus, you can join group chats based on your interests — comedy shows, writing fan-fiction, rock climbing, erotic crochet (I mean, one can dream), etc. HER also lets you switch to 'looking for friends' mode, though you'll still get the occasional person who clearly didn't read your profile and propositions you anyway. And Bumble BFF exists too — not exclusively queer, but you can be pretty obvious about what you're seeking. For IRL connections, think beyond those generic 'LGBTQ+ Meetup' events where everyone stands around awkwardly eating gluten-free wafers. Look for activity-based groups where friendship happens naturally while you're distracted by actually doing something fun. What would you enjoy doing anyway that just happens to be better with other queer humans? Book clubs where you can argue about whether that character was actually gay or just 'really good friends,' hiking groups, volunteer work that doesn't make you want to cry. Many cities have queer sports leagues ranging from serious competition to less serious. (Drunk pickleball, anyone?) Gay bar trivia nights are clutch — nothing bonds people like collectively failing to remember who won Eurovision in 2019. Pro tip: Become the lesbian social coordinator you wish existed in the world. Host a casual Pride potluck and make each of your straight friends bring one queer person they know. Your allies probably have LGBTQ+ coworkers, cousins or that person from their yoga class who has a labret piercing and a rainbow carabiner. You'd be amazed how connected we all are through the gay grapevine. Check out local LGBTQ+ centers too — many have age-specific events so you don't end up feeling like someone's mom at a college mixer or someone's granddaughter at a retirement home bingo night. (Though I've done both and can say these events also have their charms.) Remember: Building chosen family is a marathon, not a sprint (unless you're really lucky and stumble into a friend group at karaoke night/a magical sidewalk). Start with one genuine connection and let it take as long as it takes to bloom. The beauty of queer friendship is real — that instant 'finally, someone who gets it' feeling when you don't have to explain why your heart quickens during certain Chappell Roan songs or watching Cate Blanchett do literally anything. Be patient and keep searching. Happy Pride. ___
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Reddit vs. Bumble: Which Social Networking Stock is a Better Buy?
Reddit RDDT and Bumble BMBL operate social networking platforms that facilitate user-generated content and community engagement, offering investors exposure to the social networking sector. RDDT serves as a vast network of communities where users can discuss a wide range of topics, while BMBL offers dating, friendship, and professional networking services, emphasizing user interaction and Mordor Intelligence report, the global social networking market size is projected to be valued at $95.33 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach $209.82 billion by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 17.09% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2030. RDDT and BMBL are likely to benefit from the significant growth opportunity highlighted by the rapid pace of or BMBL — Which of these Social Networking stocks has the greater upside potential? Let's find out. Reddit is benefiting from the continued expansion of its advertising business, higher user engagement, and the company's growing artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. Ad revenues increased 61% year over year to $358.6 million in the first quarter of the reported quarter, weekly active users grew 31% to 401 million, and daily active users rose 31% to 108 million, increasing engagement and ad enhanced its search capabilities, making it easier for users to find relevant content and communities. In the first quarter of 2025, Reddit Answers, RDDT's AI-powered search tool, reached one million weekly users and expanded globally, starting with Australia and the United company's expanding portfolio has been a key catalyst. In May 2025, RDDT enhanced Reddit Pro with streamlined profile setup and new tools that allow businesses to showcase community conversations. These updates make it easier for brands to build trust, connect authentically, and engage with Reddit's vast network of communities. BMBL is benefiting from enhanced user experience through new features, AI-driven personalized matching, and strong growth in its Bumble BFF friendship on this momentum, the company is investing in new features like the Discover tab, safety tools like ID verification, date review, and an upcoming coaching hub, which are designed to improve user experience and engagement. It is also investing in Bumble BFF to grow its friendship platform, expanding the brand beyond just dating. The focus on Bumble BFF has been noteworthy, as it has become a key growth area with more than one million active users, especially popular with Gen Z and young professionals, further expanding the brand's company is also rapidly enhancing its personalized matching algorithm using AI and machine learning to deliver more relevant matches, which is already showing positive early results. Moreover, BMBL is actively removing bots, scammers, and low-quality profiles while fostering a verified, trusted community. This effort increases member trust and encourages better engagement, which is critical for long-term sustainable growth. In the year-to-date period, shares of RDDT and BMBL have lost 34% and 30%, respectively. The dip in RDDT and BMBL's share price is due to the challenging macroeconomic environment. A broader market weakness in the tech sector and persistent fear over mounting tariffs have added to the pressure. Intense competition also remained a headwind. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Valuation-wise, RDDT shares are currently overvalued as suggested by a Value Score of F. BMBL shares are trading cheap as suggested by a Value Score of terms of the forward 12-month Price/Sales, RDDT shares are trading at 9.71X, which is higher than BMBL's 0.62X. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RDDT's 2025 earnings is pegged at $1.21 per share, which has increased 16.3% over the past 30 days, indicating a 136.34% rise year over year. Reddit Inc. price-consensus-chart | Reddit Inc. Quote The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BMBL's 2025 earnings is pegged at 86 cents per share, which has risen 32.3% over the past 30 days, indicating a 118.66% increase year over year. Bumble Inc. price-consensus-chart | Bumble Inc. Quote While both RDDT and BMBL stand to benefit from the booming social networking market, BMBL offers greater upside potential with stronger earnings growth, cheaper valuation, and expanding platforms beyond dating. Its focus on expanding portfolio, AI-driven personalization, and Gen Z engagement positions it well for long-term RDDT's expanding advertising business increasing international reach, and improving the user experience with upgraded search and discovery features, the company is suffering from intense competition from other social media platforms, which is consistently affecting user engagement and market share in advertising. Stretched valuation also remains a Bumble carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), making the stock a stronger pick than Reddit, which has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Bumble Inc. (BMBL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Reddit Inc. (RDDT) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The National
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Meet the women running Glasgow's newest LGBT+ business
Sapphic Socials co-founder Gaia Ragone spoke with The National about what the venture hopes to achieve, the lack of spaces for same-sex-attracted women in Glasgow, and its focus on building the inclusive community both founders felt they lacked. It was officially launched in December 2024 and the company has quickly garnered popularity, evidenced by its social media following and successful string of events thus far. Ragone explained why she decided to launch the venture alongside her friend Ellie Devlin, saying that it began after losing her job and having a desire to do something 'more fulfilling'. She said: 'One thing that I noticed, because I fully came out as a lesbian during lockdown, was that there weren't a lot of spaces in Glasgow where I could meet fellow lesbians or other women and non-binary people that loved women. 'There were a few gay bars around the area but they were a mixture of gay men or straight women on hen-dos or people bringing their straight pals, which is fine of course, but that's not what necessarily equates to a safe space for women or non-binary people like Ellie and I. 'A lot of my queer network was built online — I met Ellie on Bumble BFF and my girlfriend on Tinder — and I just wanted to create something where those connections could be made face to face instead. 'So I just thought, 'why not create this space that I know I needed?'' Sapphic Socials has hosted events across several Glasgow venues, such as Nonna Said, the Corset Club and the Polo Lounge. Ragone praised the businesses for their support and letting the pair use their venues for free, noting the kindness of the 'community stepping up' as the venture was launched. The company's first event — an introductory evening featuring pole dancers, belly dancers and musicians — was an immediate success, completely selling out within just a few days. Ragone stressed the importance of using Sapphic Social events to platform local queer talents, from performers to artists: 'We really want to showcase the community as best as we can. 'We're working on a merch line and we're asking local, queer artists to design it for us. 'That way, we're giving them a platform to promote their art and make some money from the sales as well as us reimbursing them for their work. 'Even with the classes we host, like yoga and dance, we always ask our community if they know any queer instructors or teachers that we can give a platform to because it's so important to us.' Following the success of its Glasgow-based events, Sapphic Socials is hoping to expand across the country in the near future, with plans to potentially launch in Edinburgh over the summer in time for the Fringe. Sapphic Socials is also a trans-inclusive venture, something Ragone was keen to highlight in light of the Supreme Court decision to define women by their biological sex. The co-founder called the move 'ridiculous' and discussed the work Sapphic Socials has been doing to support the transgender community in Glasgow: 'We did a fundraiser event for our friend Thea, who's going through facial feminisation surgery later this year, where 50% of all the proceeds went directly to her. 'We're also hoping to put on an event at the start of next month hopefully where we'll raise money for trans rights groups across the country, and it's something we do want to fight because unfortunately there is quite a lot of transphobia within the lesbian community. 'I want to make it really clear that we are inclusive of trans women — they are always, always, always welcome at our events.' SapphicSocials will be announcing more events for the summer in the coming days. Further information can be found on its Instagram, @sapphic__socials, or from their OutSavvy page:
Time Business News
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Business News
Most Popular Dating Apps in India of All Time
In the ever-evolving landscape of modern relationships, dating apps have become the bridge connecting people across cultures, languages, and lifestyles. Over the years, India has seen a significant rise in the number of dating platforms catering to various demographics—from urban millennials to people in smaller towns exploring companionship online. Let's take a look at some of the most popular dating apps in India of all time, the ones that have shaped the way people meet, match, and mingle. Tinder was a game-changer when it entered the Indian market. Known for its swipe-left, swipe-right mechanism, it quickly gained traction among young urban professionals. With a simple user interface and casual vibe, it appealed to people looking for everything from flings to long-term relationships. Over time, Tinder adapted to Indian sensibilities by adding features like 'My Move,' giving women more control over the conversation, and offering regional language options. Bumble brought a refreshing twist to online dating by encouraging women to make the first move. Founded by a former Tinder executive, Bumble positioned itself as a feminist-forward app and found a loyal user base in India. The app not only supports dating but also networking and friendships through its Bumble BFF and Bumble Bizz features. With its strong stance on safety and female empowerment, Bumble has cemented its place in India's dating culture. Born and bred in India, TrulyMadly is one of the earliest homegrown dating apps that gained popularity for its focus on serious relationships. It offers a more curated experience by verifying profiles through various social and mobile proofs, thereby building trust among its users. Unlike Tinder, TrulyMadly's algorithms are designed to encourage meaningful conversations and long-term matches. OkCupid appeals to the intellectually curious crowd with its in-depth profiles and personality-driven match system. It asks users a series of questions to find compatible matches based on shared values and preferences. This approach resonated with Indians looking beyond looks and into lifestyle compatibility, political views, and future goals. OkCupid has consistently been popular among users seeking something more substantial. Happn took a different approach by connecting users who have physically crossed paths. Using GPS tracking, it allows people to discover potential matches they've encountered in real life but didn't get a chance to talk to. This concept struck a chord in densely populated cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore, where social interactions are frequent but fleeting. Aisle is another Indian dating app that markets itself as a platform for meaningful relationships rather than casual dating. The app is designed for Indians who are ready to settle down but want the flexibility of dating before commitment. Aisle stands out for its exclusivity—it accepts only a limited number of users and focuses on quality over quantity. Hinge brands itself as 'the dating app designed to be deleted,' and that message has resonated with Indian users tired of superficial swiping. With prompts like 'The one thing you should know about me' and 'Let's make sure we…,' Hinge fosters deeper conversations. It's been especially popular among millennials and Gen Z looking for real connections. From swiping right to making the first move, the digital dating scene in India has come a long way. These apps have not only helped people find love but have also contributed to changing societal perceptions around online dating. While trends may come and go, these platforms remain iconic for their impact on how modern India connects romantically. As the popularity of Dating Apps in India continues to grow, it's clear that love in the digital age is here to stay. Whether you're looking for a soulmate or a casual conversation, there's an app for every kind of romantic journey. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
50 first dates: How far 1 woman went to make new best friendships and what it says about Americans and loneliness
Aimun Amatul never thought she'd have trouble making friends. In college, a new buddy could be found on the dance floor, in class or even in the girls' bathroom with a simple 'omg, I love your outfit!' the 24-year-old tells Yahoo Life. And then, 'adulting' hit — and hit hard. Her first job out of college was as a nursing assistant, working 12-hour shifts, which left little time for socializing. Even after switching to marketing, she was so drained after her 9-to-5 schedule. She didn't have the time or energy to respond to old friends' texts and calls, let alone go out and meet new people. But in a suddenly shrunken social sphere, Amatul turned to an unusual source to restore her connections: Bumble BFF, the friend-making arm of the popular dating app. Amatul just started matching and meeting up with other women, and before she knew it, she'd been on 50 friend-dates from the app. And she wound up with enduring friendships. 'Over time, I've created extremely strong friendships, and I've come to realize that the friendships that last the longest are the ones where I feel totally and completely OK being myself,' she says. But Bumble BFF was a sort of hail mary for Amatul. Despite being extroverted, she felt pretty friendless and at a loss for how to change that before she started swiping on potential pals. With a loneliness epidemic upon us, according to the former U.S. surgeon general, the state of friendship in America is much under the microscope. Amatul is far from alone in feeling that forming connections, especially close ones, has gotten harder over time. So is friendship in the U.S. really in a state of emergency? Here's what Amatul, the data and friendship experts have to say. 'There's definitely evidence that people are experiencing high levels of loneliness,' Natalie Pennington, an assistant professor at Colorado State University who studies friendship, tells Yahoo Life. Her own research, published in the American Friendship Project, shows that young people in particular are struggling. Pennington suspects that, for teenagers and young adults, 'people are around them all the time, but they aren't engaging.' That may mean American friendships have a problem of quality rather than quantity. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Pennington's research suggests that, on average, Americans might not have dramatically fewer friends than they did in the past, but counting them turns out to be harder than it might seem. One 2021 survey suggested that the share of both men and women who had no close friends increased by four-fold since 1990. A recent Pew survey made similar findings: 20% of men and 17% of women said they had no close friends. But when asked how many friends — not close friends — people have, Pennington's study found that nearly half (44%) of Americans said they had between one and five friends. She and her colleagues concluded that only 2% to 3% of survey respondents had no friends. That, Pennington says, is similar to what was seen in past friend polling from the 1990s. Perhaps more important, 'people are pretty happy with the number of friends they have,' says Pennington. 'They wish they had more time for their friends or were closer with their friends.' While more than 75% of respondents to the same survey said they were satisfied with the number of friends they have, only 57% said they were satisfied with the amount of time they get to spend with friends. And more than a third (37%) said maintaining close relationships had been difficult or frustrating for them over the past year. A lack of free time may be why about 66% of adults surveyed by the American Friendship Project in 2023 said it was easier to make friends at a different time in their lives. However, it's more difficult to pinpoint whether this reflects how relationships change over a person's life or if there's been a broader shift in recent decades. In either case, all of the experts that Yahoo Life spoke to say that time is a key factor. Amatul certainly has seen that firsthand. After college, 'you realize how little time and energy you have' for a social life. Amatul, who was recently laid off from her job, says that when she was working, 'I would come home at 6 p.m., have time to eat, do a quick workout, watch a show and then go to bed.' She simply didn't have the hours in the day to spend with friends. Plus, 'there are days that I choose to rot in bed and scroll and hang out on social media rather than with my real friends,' Amatul admits. 'It takes a lot of energy for me to want to break out of that routine.' Many people, including Amatul, find that making and keeping friends is harder in adulthood. But Andy Merolla, a professor of communication theory at the University of California, Santa Barbara, suspects that many Americans are working more hours to handle rising costs for basic necessities like eggs and housing. That's costing them time for friends. 'You have to schedule time for friends as if you were scheduling a doctor's visit,' Merolla tells Yahoo Life. 'It's not just that there's fewer minutes in daily life for friendship, but that it takes more effort to make those kinds of quality interactions happen,' he says. When you're already tapped out by work, parenting and chores, it can be hard to muster the energy to reach out to friends. 'The more that our work requires us to recharge, the more that we might feel driven to spend that time [alone] because spending it with other people might strike us as similar' to work, he explains. 'The contradiction is that you might need that time with friends; that's the paradox.' In other words, time spent with others may seem like it will further drain us when it's actually one of the things that helps to refuel us, Merolla says. In a word, no. 'There's not actually strong research evidence that social media is uniquely bad for us,' says Pennington. 'It's just more net-neutral.' Whether social media and other forms of technology are beneficial or harmful depend — like any tool — on how they're used, she says. Time spent passively scrolling through TikTok or reading news does little to connect us with others, Pennington says. But more active engagement, like messaging a friend, can have positive affects on our social connections and, thus, our overall well-being. For Amatul, technology made all the difference when it came to making friends: Her 50 first Bumble BFF dates resulted in many delightful dinners, hiking buddies and a group of six girls that get together regularly. When it comes to making friends, researchers have actually figured out how long it takes. On average, people begin to consider someone a friend rather than an acquaintance after spending 50 hours together, according to a 2018 study involving adults. But it takes between 120 hours and 160 hours to become good friends and 300 hours — the equivalent of more than eight days — before someone qualifies for the title of a "best" friend. How those hours together are spent seems to matter too. The researchers found that, in the early stages of a friendship, just hanging out together seems to help people become close. But later on in relationships, intimate conversations were more predictive of close friendships than shared activities. Small talk, beyond when you first meet someone, predicts a decrease in closeness. But time spent on real talk — discussions about the past week, shared jokes, deep conversations — at the six- and nine-week marks was linked to closer friendships. These kinds of interactions often involve the key friendship ingredient of self-disclosure, Amanda Holmstrom, an associate professor of communication at Michigan State University, tells Yahoo Life. 'It doesn't mean you should tell somebody everything about yourself right way, but, to some extent, intimacy is contingent on people sharing thoughts, feelings and beliefs." In other words, to be friends, you have to take the time to get to know one another and be a bit vulnerable. As for keeping those friends? People may spend as much as 1,000 hours over the next month with each good or best friend to maintain their closeness, the study found. That's a lot of time that we may not feel we have in the busy enviroment in which we live — especially in adulthood, when we're spread thinner by long work hours, child care and other mundane but essential tasks. There's no getting around it: Friendships take effort. But some simple tools and tips can make that feel less daunting. Start small. Holmstrom and her colleagues gave a group of college students an assignment: Each day, give one person a compliment, tell them they cared about them or share a joke over the phone or in person. 'Students who did that just one time, at the end of the day, had a greater sense of well-being; they felt less lonely and more connected,' Holmstrom says. You can try that with any of your own friends or acquaintances. It's a small lift with a big payoff, says Holmstrom. Shoot your shot. Given her positive experience, Amatul has been an advocate for using technology like Bumble BFF to make friends. But she also knows that being willing to message others first improved her chances of a connection. And, Merolla notes, you can think of this as practice: Sometimes, the joke you make with the parent standing next to you at the soccer game will land, and sometimes it won't. That's OK. Open up. Experts agree that self-disclosure is a key ingredient to meaningful friendship. But it's definitely a two-way street. Try to plan time — whether it's a call, a walk or even running errands together — when there is plenty of space to just talk with a friend. And remember that you can signal your openness to connection in subtle ways, like putting your phone away when you're around others.
